KUALA LUMPUR: Former Youth and Sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin has denied allegations that the National Service Programme (PLKN) was used as a platform by the previous government for the purpose of political indoctrination.
He said the programme was set up to promote the spirit of nationalism and boost patriotism.
"Under the PLKN 2.0, where I was directly involved with former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, we focused on skills training.
"That is why we produce new modules such as financial literacy, communication skills, including in English and options for them to pursue their education in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
"For me, PLKN is for political purposes but BTN ... you understand lah," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Monday.
Khairy was responding to the remarks made by Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, who said that the Pakatan Harapan government found that the PLKN and the National Civics Bureau (BTN) programmes had to be abolished, because they had been used for political indoctrination by certain quarters.
Khairy said that PLKN 1.0 was reviewed because it was lacking in terms of skills training.
"It focused on the military aspect, discipline among others," he said.
On the 1Malaysia For Youth (iM4U), the Rembau MP said it was unfair to suggest that it was a programme to promote "I love PM”.
"They have conducted various volunteerism programmes that have nothing to do with politics.
"For instance, national volunteerism programmes that gathered thousands of youth for gotong-royong, and cleaning up the beach.
"I think it is really unfair to make a general blanket statement that it was used for political purposes," said Khairy.
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